The Beats Solo2 Wireless, the Bluetooth version of the on-ear Beats Solo2, continues the bass-forward tradition that has been the company's calling card since day one. Another Beats trait—a high price tag—is also in full effect, as the pair rings up at $299.95. In this price range, the Solo2 Wireless has some stiff competition from other wireless headphones. That said, it is a very solid performer, with an easy-to-operate design, powerful bass response, and sculpted, clear highs to balance things out. For Beats headphones, the Solo2 actually sounds slightly dialed back in the bass department—and is all the better for it.

DesignOffered in a wide variety of colors (in addition to the classic red, black, or white models), as well as 10 Major League Baseball team-themed options, the Solo2 Wireless still manages to look every bit like a Beats product thanks to the signature glossy exterior and the Beats logo on the headband and earcups. The supra-aural (on-ear) design features extremely plush earpads and a well-cushioned headband that combine for a very comfortable fit over long listening sessions.

The outer panel of the left earcup houses controls for volume (these work in conjunction with your phone's master volume level), and a central multi-function button for controlling playback, call management, and track navigation, while the power/pairing button is located on the right earcup. The headphones also have connections for the included micro USB charging cable on the right ear, and a 3.5mm aux input for wired listening on the left (a cable, with a three-button remote and mic, is included).

The Solo2 Wireless also ships with a carabiner to keep the cables wound up, as well as a very generously padded zip-up protective carrying case that the headphones fold down into.

Beats estimates battery life to be roughly 12 hours, though your results will vary with your volume levels and your mix of wired versus wireless use. Connecting the audio cable automatically breaks the Bluetooth pairing and powers the headphones down.

PerformanceOn tracks with intense sub-bass content, like The Knife's "Silent Shout," the Solo2 Wireless delivers the thunder you'd expect. At top, unwise listening levels, there's no distortion, and at more moderate levels, the bass is still powerful. Yet the Solo2 isn't a muddled mess of lows thanks to some serious boosting and sculpting in the high-mids and highs, as well. This is far from a flat response sound, but the boosting is at least balanced on both ends.

Bill Callahan's "Drover," a track with less powerful bass in the mix, gives us a better sense of the overall sound signature. The drums on this track can sound ridiculous and unnatural on headphones that push the deep lows too much. Through the Solo2 Wireless, the drums do indeed pack some extra bass heft, but it is surprisingly less about the super-deep lows being boosted to wild levels, and more about bringing out the body of the drum hits a bit. Just as noticeable is the treble presence of the drum's attack. Callahan's baritone vocals pack some impressive low-mid richness, but again, it's not nearly as heavily pronounced as you might expect from Beats—just as prominent is the high-mid and high frequency detailing, lending contour and clarity to the vocals and guitars strumming.

On Jay-Z and Kanye West's "No Church in the Wild," the kick drum loop's attack gets plenty of that high-mid presence, giving it a sharp edge that allows it to slice through the layers of the mix. Just as pronounced is the drum loop's thumping sustain, while the sub-bass synth hits that punctuate the beat are, dare we say, dialed back a bit. Yes, you get a strong sense of the ominous lows this track offers, but they don't overwhelm the mix or even come across as the most prominent force. In other words, this is a sculpted, boosted sound that puts as much, if not more, emphasis on clarity in the high-mids and highs as it does on deep lows.

It's a solid sound for pop and rock, but how does the Solo2 Wireless fare with orchestral tracks? The opening scene in John Adams' The Gospel According to the Other Marygives us an idea. This track has occasional moments of deep lows in the mix, but generally, the higher register strings, vocals, and brass own the spotlight. Through the Solo2 Wireless, the lower frequencies are boosted noticeably—not to an obnoxious degree, but there's certainly added body and depth to the proceedings. That said, the higher register instrumentation maintains its prominence in the mix. Purists may recoil in horror, but nobody buys Beats headphones for the flat response, reference-style sound signature. Most listeners will be pleased with the versatility and balance.

ConclusionsThe Beats Solo2 Wireless offers a supremely comfortable fit and delivers audio that is very sculpted, but in a pleasing way, with a focus on clarity in the highs and not overdoing things in the lows. The headphones also sound solid when used in passive, wired mode—there's no overwhelming difference in frequency response. In fact, the only thing holding the Solo2 Wireless back is its price. Competition is fierce in the $300 realm. There are excellent options like the JBL Everest Elite 700, the less expensive Sony MDR-ZX770BT, and the magnificent (but pricier) Bowers & Wilkins P5 Wireless. The Solo2 Wireless stands as a solid alternative, but feels about $50 more expensive than it should be.

Beats Solo2 Wireless

Beats Solo2 Wireless

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